What Do You Want to Know About Dementia?

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Dementia is a decline in cognitive function. To be considered dementia, mental impairment must affect at least two brain functions. Dementia may affect:

memory

thinking

language

judgment

behavior

Dementia is not a disease. It may be caused by a variety of
illnesses or injuries. Mental impairment may range from mild to severe. It may
also cause personality changes. Some dementias are progressive. This means they
get worse over time. Some dementias are treatable or even reversible. Some
experts restrict the term dementia to irreversible mental
deterioration.

What
causes dementia?

There are many causes of dementia. In general, it results
from the degeneration of neurons (brain cells) or disturbances in other body
systems that affect how neurons function.

Neurodegenerative means that neurons gradually
cease to function or function inappropriately and eventually die. This impacts
the neuron-to-neuron connections, called synapses, which arehow
messages are passed along in your brain. This disconnect can result in a range
of dysfunction.

Other causes of
dementia

metabolic disorders, such as hypothyroidism, vitamin
B-12 deficiency, and kidney and liver disorders

toxins, such as lead

Some of these dementias may be reversible. This is one of
the many reasons why it’s important to see your doctor and get a medical workup
as soon as symptoms develop.

Isn’t
forgetfulness a normal part of aging?

It’s absolutely normal to forget things once in a while.
Memory loss by itself does not mean you have dementia. There is a difference
between occasional forgetfulness and forgetfulness that is cause for serious
concern.

Potential red flags for dementia include:

forgetting whosomeone is

forgetting how to do common tasks, such
as how to use the telephone or find your way home

inability to comprehend or retain information that has
been clearly provided

Seek medical attention if you experience any of the above.

Getting lost in familiar settings is often one of the first
signs of dementia. For example, you might have trouble driving to the
supermarket.

How
common is dementia?

The number of people diagnosed with dementia or living with it
is increasing. This increase is due partly to increasing life expectancy. By
2030, the size of the population 65 years of age and older in the United States
is expected to almost double from 37
million people in 2006 to an estimated 71.5 million by 2030, according to
the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics Older Americans.

What
research is being done?

Scientists all over the world are working hard to gain a
better understanding of the many different aspects of dementia. This might help
to develop preventive measures, improved early detection diagnostic tools,
better and longer-lasting treatments, and even cures.

For example, a vaccine known as a bapineuzumab jab is
currently in its final phase of testing. Though it cannot cure dementia or
related disorders, this vaccine has been shown to prevent the buildup of
amyloid plaques in the brain. In some cases, this vaccine can even reverse
buildup of these plaques. Amyloid plaques are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s
disease. They’re mostly insoluble clumps of protein fragments that deposit a
highly damaging gunky substance outside and around the
brain’s nerve cells.

Scientists are investigating a variety of factors they think
might influence the development of dementia, including:

This research can help doctors and scientists better
understand what causes dementia, and then discover how best to treat and
possibly prevent the disorder.

There is also increasing evidence that lifestyle factors may
be effective in decreasing the risk of developing dementia. Such factors might
include getting regular exercise and maintaining social connections.